We live in a World where everything is going digital and carrying out our day to day activities has become really easy and smooth. With the advent of information and technology, e-documents can be signed with the electronic format of signatures, known as a digital signature. In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know on the digital signature.
A digital signature is an electronic form of signature and it is used to authenticate electronic documents like e-mail, spreadsheet, text file, and so on, through data encryption. Authentic refers to, you will know who has created the document and you will also know, no changes have been made since that person created it. The digital signature gives you reasons to believe that the message was created by a known sender and confirms the security of the document. In order to increase security while signing electronic documents, a digital signature is created with cryptographic techniques.
The digital signature uses digital keys to verify documents and it will be in the form of a certificate which consists of information like the name, email address, residential address, issuing date of the certificate, along with the details of the certifying authority.
1. Digital signature offers more security while transferring a document over the electronic mode.
2. With the help of a digital signature, the need to print documents for authentication can be eliminated.
3. There is no need to store physical documents.
A Digital Signature Certificate or DCS is an electronic certificate issued for the purpose of validating and verifying the identity of the person holding this certificate. It is used by the individual or company to maintain the security of the transaction.
Class 1 Certificates:
Class 1 Certificates are issued to an individual or private subscribers. Generally, it is used to validate the username and email address of the user.
Class 2 Certificates:
Class 2 certificates are issued to the director or signatory authorities of companies and it is generally used for the purpose of e-filing of ITR, GST returns and so on. For individuals who have to sign manual documents while filing of returns with the ROC, class 2 certificate is compulsory.
Class 3 Certificates:
Class 3 Certificates are mainly issued to vendors who want to participate in e-auctions and online tenders anywhere in India. Class III Certificate has a higher level of encryption.
To obtain a digital signature certificate in India, you have to contact a registered certificate agent. The application for the digital signature should be submitted to a registered certificate agent, along with following documents:
Copy of address proof which is self- attested
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